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For a perspective on what was an entertaining spring of Montreal hockey, let’s go back two seasons.

At the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, the Canadiens were dead last in the Eastern Conference, which won them the right to draft Alex Galchenyuk third overall, the highest the famed franchise had selected in 32 years.

That spring, the Ottawa Senators waged a terrific first-round playoff tussle with the New York Rangers. The Sens ultimately succumbed in seven tough games, but there was a consensus that Ottawa was definitely a team trending upwards, and a year later, with both the Habs and Sens in the post-season, Ottawa spanked Montreal in five games.

Now look at where we are.

The Senators missed the playoffs this season and won’t pick in the first round, having traded that selection to Anaheim in the Bobby Ryan deal. To Maple Leaf fans, that’s a familiar storyline.

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Montreal, meanwhile, two years after being worst in the east, just finished losing a spirited six-game series to the Rangers, disappointing those of us who hope to see another Canadian-based Stanley Cup champion in our lifetimes.

So what’s the moral of this story? Well, while the Canadiens delivered some spills and thrills this spring and upset a darn good Boston squad, this doesn’t put them any more on the fast track to winning a Cup than it did the Senators two years ago.

Or any closer than the Leafs, really. Eastern Canada’s NHL clubs are all in the same general area of the NHL power map, and all are facing similar challenges in establishing themselves as perennial challengers for the league championship.

Montreal had a strong spring, and a good regular season. But, as the conference final showed, they’re one Carey Price injury away from being ordinary. Price or Erik Karlsson would be the best player in the division, and those clubs have shown they don’t have the depth to compensate if those players are injured or take a step backwards in their performance.

The Leafs and Sens have issues revolving around their captains, and while both have youth, the actual quality of that youth is open to debate.

Montreal, meanwhile, has a rather massive issue to face this summer with unsigned star defenceman P.K. Subban, the kind of financial problem that could upset the entire operation. Subban has positioned himself to get Shea Weber or Ryan Suter money, maybe more. The cap is going up and the Canadiens played hardball last time around, and you can be sure the very proud Subban remembers.

Andrei Markov, meanwhile, looks like he can’t be an elite defender any more, at least not deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Max Pacioretty is the only forward who would be in the top six on Chicago or Los Angeles. Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais have their moments, but neither is a true No. 1 centre.

A second round pick and prospect Sebastien Collberg were sent to the Islanders for the ultimately disappointing Thomas Vanek. There are some intriguing prospects in the Montreal cupboard — goalie Zach Fucale, defenceman Jarred Tinordi, forwards Charles Hudon and Jacob de la Rose — but, like the Leafs, no blue-chip stars are in the offing.

The Habs got as far as they did this spring with team speed, brilliant goaltending from Price and a strong team concept installed and enforced by Michel Therrien. Players like Daniel Briere and Douglas Murray played supporting roles, coming in and out of the lineup, and did it well. Josh Gorges can play on my team anytime, and Rene Bourque had an uncharacteristically robust spring.

But all of that guarantees nothing, just as the Leafs near-upset of Boston last spring guaranteed nothing, and just as Ottawa’s seeming rise to Eastern Conference powerhouse turned out to be way off.

All these teams have the same fundamental problem; not enough elite talent and depth, and no fast way to get what they need.

The Leafs, Sens and Habs might each have two such players, but no more. Toronto might hope to get something special with the eighth pick in next month’s draft, but it seems to be a draft filled with good players, but no franchise players.

Ottawa has no first rounder and may need to trade Jason Spezza, it’s No. 1 centre and captain. And the Habs? They’re got Price and Subban, but they have to make Subban happy. Galchenyuk, if he develops, could be a third world-class player for Montreal, but we’ll have to wait on that one.

Until these teams are able to secure more “A” list players, they’ll always be living with the hope of a surprise season and the threat of a disastrous one.

Spring hockey in Montreal always gets the blood flowing, and people get all worked up with the anthem singers, torches and symbols of past greatness.

This series against the Rangers was an unexpected chance to get back to the Cup final, but like the Leafs against Carolina in ’02 or the Kings in ’93, they blew that chance.

It doesn’t change where that team is at the moment. It was entertaining and fun, but it didn’t move the Habs closer to greatness again.

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